Pneumatic separator.



7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,1 EENNY swim FILED PEB. e, 1908,

APPL" a W www# L W/ TN1555 Sw fia' v E2 A. BRENNER.

FNBUMTIC SEPARATOB.

P.. A. BRElVE, PNEUM'T SBPARATOR. A PPLIOATIDN FILED 3133.8, 190s.

www@ Sym.

'l SEEHTE-HHEET 5.

W/TNESSES.

.'NEUMATXC SEERATE.

filed .February 1.9092.

Specification or Letters @attent Nelly, 29, 1916.

Serial No. f flf. i'i. i

z A. Brune county' oI' nsin, have veinents in iarators, olf which thefollow ption, reference being had to mg drawings, which are a.eciiication. ,ion has relation to improve ments in pneumatic separators.

The primary objectof the invention is to o ide an improved constructionwhereby sh, et paper are rapidly, accuuccessively separated fronra toryto to a rrinii i .ir ier important 'object is to provide, in connectionwith a suction box, means for separating from lthe underside of said boxich of said single sheets being fed ng press.

all sheets oit up by the box, with the exception of the singie sheetwhich is in direct contact with the ho. om the suction box.

-With the above, and numerous other inci dental obliects in view, theinvention consists of t eiices and parts, or the equivalents thereof, asliereinafter more `tully pointed out.

lin the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the completeapparatus;

- Fig. 2 is an elevation ot' one side, parts bethe opposite ingbrolieizaway; Fig. 3 is an elevation of side; Fig. e is a longitudinalsectional view; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partsv being broken away,showing the suction device in t-he position which it occupies aboutmidway of its rearward travel. and also showing the valve whichregulates the suction pipe in its open position; Fig. 6 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 5, but showing` the suction box at the limit of itsrearward travel, and the valve which regulates the suction lpipe in itsclosed position; Fig. 7 is a plan view oi' the suction mechanism, partsbroken away; Fig. 8- is a cross section on the line 8-f:l of Fig. 7;Fig. 9 is a View looking' downwardly upon the forward roller and uponthe air blowing mechanism; Fig. l0 is an end view of Fig. 9, parts insection; Fig-.11 is vertical section on thc line 1 1--11 of Fig. 9; Fig.12 isa detail View of the in section; Fig. 13 is a dedownwardly on thelmechby pneumatic ineens, prepara- K paper which may be suckedtraightening a sheet of pai tor raising the paper supporting tabie; i.,ig. 1L is a sectional view on the line 14i-11l oi ll; Fig. 15 is afragmentary' view lookin per raising table, and one corner of the boxfor said table, pants being broken away; Fig. 16 is an elevation ot thedevices for gov-` erning the tripper .mechanism of the printing press;Fig. through Fig. 16; 18 isa view of the two cams which are on oppositeends of' the main drive shaft, showing the initial or `normal positionot' said cams when the machine is not in operation; and, the inner ofsaid camss Referringto the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a portionof the framework, the forward portion 21 thereof being in the form of afour sheets of paper, the said sheets being supported on a platform ortable 22 which is intermittently movable within the box on iour verticalscrew rods 23 arranged at the four corners of the-box. each of the screwrods extends through the bottom of the box, and carries a beveled gear24, and the upper end of each rod passes through a bearing 25 and -has anut 2G turned on to its bearing. At each corner of the box are twovertical strips 27-27 (see particularly Figs; ifl and 15) and betweenthese strips extends from cach corner of the table a tongue'28.

The screw rods pass through the tongues 28, 90

and hence said screw rods offer no obstruction to the sheets of paprrlying on the table; 01min other words, the screw rods are so disposed asnot to interfere with the paper lying squarely ou the table.

Beneath the box are two horizontal shafts -29-29- Each ofthese shaftscarries two beveled gears 30 which respectively mesh with the beveledgears 24 on the vertical screw rods 23.

The main driving shaft 'of the mechanism is indicated by the numeral 31.This shaft extends transversely across the 'frame 20 and throughopposite sides of said frame. This shaft may be rotated in any desirableman- '105 ner, and I show in the drawings a p'ulley 32 mounted on oneIof the extended ends thereof, said pulley adapted to have a belt (notshown) pass therea'r'ound, the said 'belt le'fding from anysutablesoareof power, on each outwardly projecting end of the shaft there aretwo cam mi' down on one corner oft the pa- 17 is a vertical sectionalview Fig. 19 is a view of 70 sided box toaccommodate the The lower endof upper end against the 'moved longitudinally two cams on one endbeing` duplicates of the. two. cams on the opposite end#A The inner oneof each of these cams is indicated by the numeral 33, and the outer oneby the nu- 'meral 34. Each inner cam is provided with tion of the frame.Normally, each roller 36 is seated in the bottom of each depression 35,as shown in Fig. 19. The driving shaft, it will be understood, isrotated clockwise, or, in other words, in a direction. toward theforward end of Athe machine. When the shaft starts to lrotate, what maybe termed the rear inclined-'walls of the depressions 35 will be causedto rotate along the rollers 36 which will of course have -the effect ofcaus ing an uplifting of the arms 37 and consequent up movement-of theupri htarms 38. its arms 88 are connected to the horizontal levers 39,said levers are necessarily turned on their pivots so that the rear endsthereof are elevated or raised. Levers 39 on their outer sides areprovided longitudinally with guides LlO-L t0, and in these guides barslt-4l are adapted to travel back and forth. The bars in question arereciprocated or by means of pitmen -l-fl2, the forwar ends of said'pitmen being connected to the upper ends of the long arms of bell cranklevers t3-43; To the short arms of the bell crank levers are pivote-.illinlts lift- 44, and to the upper ends of these linlrs are pivoted theforward ends of medially pivotedlevers t5-45.' The rear ends ot' levers'l5 carry rollers'fiG-li which rollers act in conjunction with the outercams Si. Coiled springs 4.7---4'7 are connected at their upper ends tothe short arms of the bell crank levers a3), and at their lower ends tothe framework, and serve the function of pulling down the short arms ofthe bell crank levers 4:3, and also pulling down the links t-l and themedially pivoted levers 45, after said parts have been raised, and theproper time has arrived for returning said parts to normal position.

The numeral 48 indicates a suction box which extends transversely acrossthe rear framework and is provided at opposite ends with projecting lugs49-4-9 which extend outwardly in depressions StL-50 in the sides i :heframework, and have their outer ends Oli bent.downwardly and securedtothe longitudinally movable bars 4l so as to be moved back and, forth,as said bars are actuated. The :rearward and forward movement of thebars il and consequently the suction ermee box is effected entirely bythe outer cams 34, while, as previously explained, the up and downmovement 'of the suction box 'is effected entirely by thc inner cams Just to the rear of the normal forward position of the suction box is aroller 5l, preferably made up of a series of collars mounted on a shaft.52 and spaced a distance apart las most clearly shown in Fig. 9). To therear of roller 52 are two rollers .53-53 mounted one above the other andmounted, respectively, on shafts 54H54.

The forward single roller 5l is intended to he rotated clockwise, or, inother words, in a direction toward the forward end of the machine, whilethe lower or active roller of the two rollers 53 is intended to berotated in a direction toward the rear end of the machine, or in otherwords, anti-clockwise. These reverse rotations of the two rollersmentioned may be accomplished in any desirable manner, but I show in.the drawings a convenient system of gearing for accomplishing this, andwhich will now be described. On the main shaft 3l is a beveled gear 55which meshes with another Iejear wheel 5G carried at the lower end of aninclined shaft 57. '.llhe-npperend of this inclined shaft carries abeveled gear 58 which meshes with a beveled gear 59 on one end of theshaft 5ft of the vlower roller 53. On the opposite end of this lowershaft 54 is a toothed wheel 60, which is connected up to a toothed wheel6l on one end of the shaft 52 of the forward roller 5l, by means ofasystem of gearing' G2, consisting of two intermediate intcrmeshingtoothed wheels carried on stubs or short' axles 63. In view of the factthat the main shaft 31 rotates in a direction toward the forward end ofthe machine, or, in other words, clockwise the gearing between it andthe lower of the shafts 54 causes the latter shaft to rotate in adirection to fard the rear end of the machine, or, in other words,anti-clockwise, while the train of gearing between said lower roller 54and the shaft 52 of roller 5l causes the latter roller to rotate in adirection toward `thc forward end of the machine,or, in other words,eloclnvise.

The suction box 48 hereinbefore referred to is most clearly shown inFigs. 5, G, 7 and 8 of the drawings. .lt is of box like form, with thcrear end preferably on an incline (Figs. 5 and G). This box is dividedup, into a series of chambers or compartments by means of partitions Gl,the central compartmentbeing of' greater length than the com partmentson opposite sides thereof. The central compartment is indicated by thenumeral (S5, and the other compartments by the numeral (5G. The bottomof the box is provided with a series of openings 67, a plurality of saidopenings leadingr to each compartment. Each partition 64 at one pointiso 977-,1co l .ma

is enlarged to form a circular and down- 'wardly tapering valve chamber68, provided at diametrically opposite points of its wall, and in thedirection of the length of the suction box, with openings 69-G9..Fittedin each of these valve-chambers is an upright tapering handoperated valve 70, *provided with a horizontal port Vor passage y 71.The/never one of these valves is turned The suction through the-.suctionbox is 4so as to bring its port'or passage 7l into registration with'theopenings 69, communication is established between .two of the com- Y'partments so as to makel both effective 'for suction purposes and thiscan be carried out throughout the entire series of compartcreated bymeans ofa suction pipe 72 -which -enters the top of the box, referablyat a .central point thereof. Int e-lower end of this pipe is a pgig 73.which is formed with 'avalve chamber 74, said chamber vhaving verticalports'-leading therefrom, the `lower of said ports communicating withthe central 'chamber or compartment of the 'suction box, andtheupper'ofsaid ports com# municating with the main portion of the suction pipe.-Within the valve chamber' 7 4 isv disposed a valve 76 having a passage'77 F'therethrough. When this valve is turned `so as to `bring itspassage 7 7 into alinement with the ports 75, 1t will be obvious that aclear ...passage Ais afforded from the suction box through the -pipe 72.The open position of 'ing finger 80.

ing the valve rod in adirection to bring the valve to the open positionshown in 5. -When, however/che suction'jbox in its travel reaches thelimit ofits rearward movement, the finger 79 contacts with a forwardlyprojecting arm 82,-and causesgi. turning of the valve rodgin aldirection to effect theclosing of the valve (see Fig. 6). The suctionpipe 72 extends upwardly from the suction box,

and then 'bends downwardly and communi cates with the interior of `achamber 83 through the upperv end of one side of said.

chamber.l From another side of this chamber leads a pipe section 84which extends to Y andcommunicates with any suitable source of 4suctionmeans. WVithin the chamber is a piston 85 provided with'a dependingpiston stem 86 which extends downwardly through the open bottom ofthechamber, and. is piw the'valve is shown in Fig. 5, and the closedposition thereof'in Fig. 6.

otally connected at its lower end to u vlever '87,' pivoted tothe framework said lever provided with an upper serrated edge which forms a meansfor adjustably suspending a weight 88. The other end of a lever S7connects with the tripper mechanism of the printing press (not shown),and is adapted to operate said tripper mechanisn'i.

If it is supposed that there is .a sheet of paper beneath the suctionbox, the holes or openings in thc bottom of the box are closed thereby.A strong suction is thereby created upwardly from this sheet of paper inorder to hold'it to the bottom of the suction box, said suction being`from the suction box, through the pipe 72, through the upper portion ofthe chamber 83, and-tlu'ough the pipe 84 to thesuction means. Thesuction necessarily creates a vacuum in thc upper portion bottom of saidbox are necessarily free orl left. uncovered', and as a consequencethere are uninterrupted currents of air through the-bottom vofthesuction box. through the suction pipe, through the chamber 83. andthrough pipe 841:0 the suction means. When thist uninterrupted draftoccurs the vacuum above the piston no longer exists, and the action ofthe weight 8 8 will cause the piston stem 86 to descend, andconsequently cause a turningof thelever 87 on its pivot, This turning ofthe lever 87 causes an action on the tripper mechanism ofthe printing.press so as to throw off the impression cylinder with out stopping therotation of the same as well as the rotation of the -form cylinder. Theresult is that when the mechanism misses feedingasheet of paper, theimpression cylin'der Ais Y.prevented from being brought against thebacking for the paper on the the type on said backing is prevented. 'lf

this were not providedfor, the type would come in contact with thebacking at a time when said backing did not have/a sheet of paperthereagainst. -and would result in the Vnext sheet of paper fed along bythe. mechanism being smeared Aor soiled-on the under side thereof by theprinters ink impressed on the paper backing.

In the operation of the suction box, it is of course apt to suck up aplurality of sheets of paper. from the table, when it isonly desiredthat one sheet of paper be fed through I the mechanism at a time. reasonthat I provide for the forward roller It is for this 5l rotatingclockwise, or, in other words, in-

al.l direction toward the forward end of the machine.- This rotation ofsaideroller has the. effect, when the suction box is caused to ble pipe89 leading from any suitable Vsource o of air supply, said pipecommunicatin at its upper end with a short nipple depen lng from atransverse pipe 90. Pipe 90 has' a series of curved and flat nozzles -91projecting therefrom, there being one of said nozzles for each spacebetween two of the adjacent collars forming-the roller 51. The upperends of these nozzles bend or curve into the spaces, and the currents ofair issuing therefrom strike the sheets of paper and are designed toloosen and separate from the suction lbox all of the sheets with theexception 'of the sheet lying ldirectly againstA the bottom of thesuction box, and which 1s' held to the suction box as against the actionof the blasts of air, by reason of 4the suction I exerted.

the roller 51 (see Fig. 5).

' 1`here is a point of travel of the suction box when it is directlyover and bears upon It is therefore desirable that there should Abe aslight yield of said roller downwardly in order to relieve friction, orto obviate such a close en-` gagement between the suction box and -theroller as would prevent said roller in its rotation forwardly frompushing back any surplus sheets which may adhere lto the bottom of thesuction box. As provision isihus made for the roller 51 moving downwardslightly, provision must also be made for a corresponding movement ofthe pipe 90 and its nozzles 91. This is secured by providing bearingsfor the shaft 52 inthe form of arms 92 projecting from slide bars 93 onopposite sides of the framework, said bars' 93 being movable verticallyin guides 94. The opposite ends of the pipe 90 are also secured to theslide bars 93. The bars 93 have ears 94 projecting therefrom and tolthese ears are pivoted levers 95, said levers being pivoted betwentheirends to the framework on pivot pins 96. Adjustably suspended from theends of the levers beyond the pivots thereof are weights 97; The upperedges of the levers are preferably serrated so that Vthe weights may beconveniently held in adjusted posit1on. From this construction, it willbe obvious that as the suction box bears down on the top of the roller51 a very slight down movement or yield ofvsaidI roller` is providedfor, by reason ofthe bars 93 mov"- ing downwardly slightly in theirguideways. As the bars thus move downwardly, the inner ends of thelevers 95 arecarried in the same direction, while, by reason of theprovision-of the pivots'96, the outer ends of the levers move u wardlyagainst 'the contrary force exerte bythe weights 97. The moment pressureof the suctionbox against Aroller 51 is removed, the weights 97necessarily' turnthe outer ends of levers 95 downwardly, and raise theinner ends 'ofsaid levers, thereby raising bars 93 and conse.-

quently restoring both therolle'r 51 andthe pipe 90, together withthe`nozzles 91V ofsaid i pipe, to their normal raised position. 1

The suction box acts to draw or Asuck up the paper upon thecompletion ofitsV for-f eol raised, whereby the limited down movement Y of thesuction box `will always bringit in close enough proximity to the topofuthe pile of paper.- as to permitv the said boxv to suckup the' paper.Ihave heretofore de# scribed the four l'screw rods 23'extendingvertically/in the 50x21, and provided at their lowerends withthe-beveled gears 24 meshing with similar ears' 30- on opposite rigidtothe under si es of the four corner tongues 28 of the table. As the-screwrods,

are turnedby the intermeshing of the gears '24 and 30, it necessarilyfollows that the tablemust move vertically. f However, it is alsonecessary that the two horizontal shafts 29-29 should be rotated inorder to convey rotation tothe screw rods, and to secure this iends' ofhorizontal 'sliafts 29-29. vThe L screw rods run throu h nuts 98 whichare reo I project one ,end of 011e of the shafts 29 outwardly throughthe side of the. frame,

and mount on said lextended end` clutch mechanism consisting of theinner. loose clutch member 99, and the outer clutch member 100, thelatter beingrotatablewith" the shaft but movablelongitudinally thereon,as.

by being feathered thereto (see Fig. 1)'.y The inner loose clutch member99 is'formed with a sprocket lwheel`101 which is connected up toasprocket wheel 102 on- :the

main shaft 31fby means. of a sprocket chainV continuously 'rotated butis normally loose,l on shaft 29. Vihen, however, the feathered 1 clutch'men'l'bery 100 is moved into engagement with said inner loose clutchmember,

the 'rotation of the' latter is.conv'eyed to the shaft 29.` -It is thennecessary to transmit the rotation of this "shaft-29 tothe other shaft29, and this is accomplished by moupting on the two shafts 29 sprocketvwheels 104%104 connectedA by means of a sproket chain 105. It is alsoimportant that the www,... v 4

comme movement of the table upwardly be inter- 1n 1ttent-,;and it. is-for this reason that I provide the two clutch members referred to. Ialso provide means for automatically operating the feathered clutchmember so as to throwl itinto engagement withthe loose clutch member,and this mechanism consists` o f a vertical clutch operating rod 106carrled-'on the outer side of the box 21. 'The'. lower end of this rodis turned'atanangle"v and forked, the arms of the fork being indi` catedby the numerals 107-107. These arms -engage a groove' 108 -in thefeathered clutch member. The clutch operating rodv 106 is pivotedy atits lower end on Va pivot pin 109. It will' be llinderstoodi-hat tl1eforked arms normally engage thegroove of the feathered clutch so as .tollilry'eld lsaid clutch out of engagement with t 108, and coiled springs110-110 then act on the feathered clutch member and forceit inwardlyint-o engagement with the loose clutch member. The clutch operating rodpassesvthrough a lug 111 projecting from .the framework, and above thelug .said arm carries a collar 112; Surrounding the .rod between the lugand the collar is'a coiled spring 113 which acts to return the rod toits normal position after having been dei pressed. The depressing of therod 106 is intermittently accomplished by contact o f the lever 37 withtlul upper end of said rod, which contact takes place ever time the said1ever.turns downwardly its pivot,

and which'occurswhen the suction box is.

lowered. i c

For-accurately spacing the suction gbox above the roller 51 the distanceof the thick-v ness of one sheet of paper, I provide screws 114 throughthe cndears on lugs 49 of the suction box for adjustably limiting theextent of the down movement of the suction box. The lower ends of saidscrews are adaptcdto Contact with the top of the arms 92 as clearlyshown in F ig. By turning these screws upwardly or downwardly the extentof the down movement or drop of the suction box upon reaching a positionnear the separating roller 51, Acan be readily limited. y

In explanation of the operation of the mechanism thus far described, .itwill be stated that the main drive' shaft is rotated clockwise, or, inother words. in a direction toward the forward end of the machine. Thiswill cause the two sets of cams 33 and 34 to be carriedaround with theshaft. in the same direction. At the very start of the operation, theAsuction box is at its farthest pootion forward, and is also extendeddown wardly inthe depressions 50 to the limit movement.

where the permitted by the stop screws 114. Also atv the start of theoperation, the rollers 36 are in the depressions-35 of the cams 33, andthe' rollers 46 are bearing against the cams. 34

at points slightly to the rear of the apex ofthe 'two inclined edges 115and 116 of said cams 34'. In .the first operation of the cams,

the rearwa'lls of the depressions 35 of cams 33 act against the rollers36 'and therebyeti'ect an upliftingof the levers .37, and

jthroughthe links 38 a turning upwardly of the pivoted arms39. -Thisraises the-suction box to the highest point of its up Before the suctionbox started on its up movement it was resting on the top sheet of thepile of paper supported on the table 2Q. The suction from the source .ofsuction supply and through the pipe y84,

chamber 83, pipe 72 and the suction ,box

.necessarily caused said suctionbox, the moment it startedupwardly, tocarry therewith or suck up, one or more df the sheets of paper. The cams34 on this initial move-I ment are also turned so as to bring the roll-.ers .46 from the initial point o'f contact, as shown in Eig. 18, thatis, from the point were bearing against the portions of t e edges 115near the apex, to a position where they bear against the in clined edges116 of the respective cams 34. After the 'cams 33 are turnedsufficiently to bring the rollers out of the depressions 35, the roundededges' 117 of the cams 33 next vengage the rollers 36. This, however,has

no further uplifting effect on the arms 39 which control the upliftingof the suction box,and consequently there is nofurther up movement atthis time of said suction box. While the curved edges 117 of cams 33 arebearing on rollers 36, the edges 116 of cams34 are traveling over therollers 46, and just before the rollers 36 leave the rounded edges 117of cams 33, the'inclin`ed,

edges 116 acting on the rollers 46 start to force the suction boxrearwardly by reason of the connection afforded by the levers 45. link44, bell crank lever 43, pitmen 42 and bars 41, the ends of the suctionbox being connected tosaid bars as hereinbefore described. Just as thisrearward travel of the,

suction box starts, the rounded edges 117 of the cams leave the rollers36,'and said rollers descend slight inclines 118-118 onto other roundededges 119-110 of said cams.

This lowersfthe suction box until the screws 114 rest on top ofthe arms92 so that'it will be just in the right position to pass over the topsurface of the forward roller 51 and spaced the thickness of one sheet.of paper above. said roller. As the edges 116 still continue to act onrollers-.46,.the suction box continues to travel rearwardly until itlies` squarely over roller 51. At this time, how# ever, the edges 116 of.'cams 34 'leave -the 44, .and rounded edges 120-120 of l box, and whichis held thereto by the suctionaction. This separating action ismaterially assisted by the particular direction of rotation of therollers 51 toward the forwardend of the machine, and. which rotation ofcourse' acts to separate the surplus sheets and moves .them back to aposition to be furtheracted upon by the air blast.' B e fore the-roundededges 120'leave the rollers 46, other short'inclined edges 121-121 onthe cams 33 acton rollers 36, and thereby act to elevate `the suctionAbox slightly, ,or to such an 'extent that it will easily'clear theAroller 51 on its continucdinovenient rearwardly. .Other rounded edges122-122 act o nvthe rollers 36, but .said edges are so shaped as'toei'ect no further raising ofjthe suction box. Next, other sho'rtinclined edges A123123 ofvcains 34 come intov engagement with rollers46, and act to movethe i 3.0 suction box rearWardly--. to a point- Justslightly in advance'of the two rollers The vshort'inclincdedges 123 ofthev cams 34 nowleave'thejrollers 4G, and the inclined edges 1154-115are once more brought into engagement with rollers 46; The coiled.

springs 47 acting on'the bell crank levers 40 and-the links 44 cause areturn forward movement of the suction box. The curved ed es 122--122 ofcams 33 next leave. the

'40, rol ers36, and said -rollers ride down what may be termed theforward inclinedwalls ofthe depressions 35, and consequently the suctionbox again lowers to its initial posi'- tion. 'I

" that at the Vtimethe suction box` completes its movement rearwardly,as previoiisly explained, the sheet of paper carried by said suctionboxis brought to such position that 50 its advancingedgeis between the tworollers {S3-#53.14 At this timelthe finger 8O of valverod 78 comes incontact with the for- 145 In further explanatiom'uitis to -be stated fwardly projecting arm 82, and the valve'74 controlling the suction boxis turned in .a irection to shut ott' further flow of air liroughsuction pipe 72, as per the position of said valie illustrated in Fig.6. lVhen the suption box completes its return forward noren'ient, thepiojectiaginger 79 of the valvca'od 78 .strikes the arm 81, andthe valve74 is again turned to an open position to permit suction to onceinoretake place,

as clearly shown vin Fig. 5. M

Anjiinportantfeature of my invention is the particular and specificarrangement of the suction box. It' has beenheretjofore deh scribed thatthis box-'is divided into sepa` rate compartments 'or chambers by meansof partitions 64, and 'that the central chamber is the longest chamberof the series. The 76 length of this central chamber is about theaveragelength of the sheet'of paper to be I fed to the-printing press,and hence under ordinary conditions the valves are closed so as to shutoff communication between the different chambers, thereby permittingA Ythe suction to take place only' through the central long chamber. If,however, sheets' .of greater length than the central-'chamber 70 of thetwo chambers next adjacent tothe central chamber are opened so as toallow for the suction also taking place not onlyy. through the centralchamber,"ibut4 alsoVV be carriedout throughout any number of theclia-iiihers, dcpending\`upon -thc size of the sheets. If extremely longsl'ieetsare to be'fed, that ish'sheets as 1ong or approximately as long,as the suction box, all of the 490 chambers are of course-placed incoi'mnuni-A i cation witlieach other by .opening all the .valves 7 0.

The ,rear portion of the inechanism is mounted oi i a fra .\ork"whichfe'xtends 95 sirable form, consisting preferably'j. fliiiprights 124, and/the parallel sidefbeams j 12S-125 supported bythe upright's, thesfaid beams foi" the greater "po'i'tions"of their 1G lengths extendingon a downward slant toj ward the printing presA.,^and their forward4ends vwhich connect with the frame 20 being i on a horizontal' plane.Jlhe frame just describedA forms'. a support forthe bed of theY 10feeding table of the mechanism, which will now be described. Journale-diii suitable bearings extending upwardly from the horizontal portions ofthe side heanis are shafts fast thereon -Aioiind--theserollers run'aseries of endless belts`128 which are neces sarily disposed in thedirection of the leigth of the feeding table. The rear one of thcrollers '12.6 is the ,actively rotated roller, the 115 rotation thereofbeing secured by'cxtending oiie'of the ends of the shaft 126 of saidroller and mounting on said extended end a bev' Voled gear 129. Thisbeie'led gear meshes longitudinal shaft 131, said shaft being mountedinbcarings 132w132 extending lat- I erallyfroin one of the side beams125. The forward. end of thisllongitudinal shaft also carries a beveledgear 133 which is inmesh 125 with and derives its rotation from abeveled gearl34 mounted on shaft 54 of the lower .of the rollers 53.'Itf is obvious that when said shaft .54 is rotated, vrotation isinecesy are to be fed to the press,'then'the valvesfS'O I through said'two other chambers. -This may 85 i `fi'oinfthe printingpicss, and is ofany dc.-`

126-126, said shafts having rollers 127-.127 1I with a similargear onthe rear e1'id`of a 110 lsarily imparted to the rear roller. 127 and '2130V consequently the upper surfaces of the belts 128 are 'caused to movein a direction toward the printing press.

In advance of the longitudinal belts 128 a series of transverse slats135 extend from one side beam 125 to the other. These slats are spaced"a distance apart, and in the spaces between the slats are arrangedtransverse rollers 136. Corresponding lends of the shafts 137 ofthesedollers carry beveled pinions 138 which mesh with similar pinions139 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 140,

said shaft having; its bearings in' boxes 141 projecting laterally fromone of the side beams. The forward end ot' this longitudinal shaftcarries another beveled pinion -142 which ineshes with the beveledpinion 129 on theend of the shaft 126 of the rear one of the rollers127.

'- -of the printing press.

^ automatically straightened out. or to be alined as to be.

In' thetravel of the sheets of paper successively'over the feedingtable, it' no means were provided to guard against it, the sheets mightwork into positions other than a- .straight alinenient with the feedingtable.

To guard against this contingency I provide a mechanismA which. in theevent ot the sheets being thrown out of straight. alineinent, will causesaid sheets to -be properly 'fed to the printing'press. Referring tothis mechanism. the numeral 143 indicates a push rod, 'which islongitudinally movable in guides 1444-144 projecting laterally from oneof the side beams 125. On this push rod 143 is a collar 145, andencirclingthe push rod between said Collar and the 'rear bearing 144 isa coiled spring 5146. To

the rearcnd of push rod-143 is nivoted a link 147. The rear end of thislini: is pivotally connected tot-hc shorty arm' of a bell crank lever1418. This short arm of the bell crank lever is provided with a seriesof perforations 149, and these perforations, in connec-A tion with apivot pin, will enable the link to be connected to the bell crank leverat difterent Points, so as to regulate the.throw of said bell cranklever. The rear end of 4.the long arm ofthe bell crank lever 'ispivotally connected to a slide 150 which extends inwardly into a recess151 formed in one of the slats 135. the top of this Slat 135 and`communicates with the-recess 151.- The slide 150 has a finger 153, whichextendsnpwardly fronr A. slot4 152 extends downwardly from said slidethrough the slot The. fdi-:Viii

ward end of the push bar v143 is in line tobe struck by one o thelongitudinal movable-1- bars 41, when 'said bar 41 reaches the 1"' ofits rearward movement. This extrem rearward movement of said bar 41occurs at the same time, of course, thatfthe-suction boxreaches itsextreme rearward movementt The contact referred to takes'place at'thetime refered to, and the push rod-143 pushed rearwardly.. This movementof the.` push rod, through the intermediary of the link 147 causes aturning of the bell crank lever. 148 on its pivot sons t'o throw the lonarmA of said bel crank lever inwardly, an

consequently throw the slide 150 in thesag'le `8 0- direction. Thiswillnecessaril .cause an movement of the slide, and t iis infm'ovementof the'slide will carry with it the forwardlyextending nger 153;v Theextent of the in movement of the slide is regulated .l 3y -`8 .5i theparticular point of connection between-'pff' the short arm 'of the bellcrank lever and-the link 14T, as regulated by the' perforations""- 149.The in movement of the slide and tine f'- ger is also so regulated astobe'timed .with 90 the movement of the successivesheets of pa-:j'

per. The result is that if a sheet of aperin Aits movement along thefeeding tab einen i., inclined or diagonal position when it reachesj thepoint where the slide is located, the u 49f5 wardly extending {inger 153of. said sli en.

will act on one of the lateral edges of the sheet, and force said sheet'into'a straight, poi: sition or alinement along thefeeding table; Aftereach sheet of paperpasses over thev "10111 last or the rearmost roller136 it will then carried to such a point as to vbe in position toreceive. the impression of the impression;-cyl-` inder of the printingpress'.

I desire it understood that wherever in '1 specitication and claims thedirection of .ro-I

tation of the roller and the main shaft, ora'ff other rotatable parts,is' described as' being toward a particular end of the machine,l Ithereby intend to indicate that the upper' tate in the directiondescribed.

W hat I claim as my invention 1s surfaces of said rotatable parts moveor ro- 1. In pneumatic separators, a suction box `.liaving a flatbottom, vand subdivided-by allm series of partitions. into separatecomprtments or chambers, each compartment 'orf' chamber having a'plurality of -openingspro :j:

vided in the bottom of the-box, and 'said partitions provided withvalvecontrolled valves are turned to an open position, the-i adjacentchambeis are thrown into communi-' eating with a suction creating means,valve adapted'when adjusted to an open sition to permit the-suctionmeans to creatief '120 openings,pwhereby when one or more of thei ingfrom one of the chambersandcommnli: 136i va pipe section leading fromthe chamber and asuction from the box and through the suctio'nplpe, and,when closed, to sluit o'tin or stop the suction.

. v 2. In pneumatic separators, a suction box subdivided 'by/ a seriesof partitions into separate compartments or chambers, the cen- -tralchamber-being of greater length than the other chambers, and the bottomof the,

box provided with openings leading to the different chambers, and saidpartitions provided With valve-controlled openings, whereby when-one ormore of the valves are turned to Aan -open position the adjacentchambers are thrown into communication with each other,a suction pipeleading from the cen tral long chamberand,communicating with -asuctionoreating means, and a valve adapted when adjustedfto an op'enposition to permit the suction ,means to create a suction from' the boxand through the suction pipe,

. and when closed,to shut olf or stop the suction.

tion'of a forwardly andbackwardlyreciprocatingsuction box provided withbottom openings, a suction pipe leading from-the suction box, a chamberWithwhich said suction pipe'connects, a piston in said-chamber,- 1 aconnection between the piston and the trippei' mechanism pf the printingpress, and adapted, When-operated, to stop or check t-h`e impressioncylinder of the printingv press,

tion of a'forwardly and backwardly recip' -rocating suction box providedwith bottom openings, a suction pipe leading from-the suction box, achamber lwith-whichv said suction pipe connects, a piston in saidchamber, said piston having'- a piston stem extending therefrom, api'voted lever having a pivotal .connection with the lower end of thepiston' stem and also'connected with the .tripper mechanism of theprinting press, and adaptedfwhen operated. to stop or check theviinpression eylinder' of the printing ress, a pipe section leading fromthe cham er and to a,suctior1 creating means, a valve for. Aregulatingthe 'suction pipe which leads -from the suction box, said valve adapted,when adjustedto an open position, to p ermit the suction means toAcreate a suction .from the box, vthrough the suction pipe,

through the chamber lin the space above the 3. In pneumatic separators,the combina# piston of said chamber, and through 'the pipe sectionleading to the suction creatin means, and said valve, when closed,adapte to shut-oft' or stop the suction. y

5. ,In pneumatic separators, the combina tion .-of a forwardly and-backwardlyrefrom said suction box, a rotatable roller'lo cated 'tothere'ar of theV normal forward position of the suction box, .and airblowing mechanism to the rear rof the roller and -constructed to directblasts of a'irover Athe roller and toward the v suction box, and therebyserve' to separate oi' disengage surciprocating suction box providedwith boty `tom openings, means for creating suction plus sheets of paperfrom the bottom ofthe suction box.

f 6. In lpneumatic separators, the con'ibina-A tion of Aa forwardly andbackwardly reciprocating' suction box providedwith bot- ;tom openings,means for'lcreating suction -from'said suction box, a roller locatedA,to the rear of the normal forward lposition of the `'suction box,means for rotating said roller -in a direction toward the forward end ofthe machine, and airblotving mechanism to l the -rear of the roller andconstructed to direct blastsof 'air from the roller and. toward thes'uctionbox, and thereby serve to separate or disengaget'su'rplus sheetsof paper from the-bottom 'of the suction'box. Y

7. In -'pneumatic' separators, the combinanon -of a fgrwfaraiy. andbackwaaiiy se ciprocating siictionbox provided with bot tom openings,means for creating 'a suction from said suctionbox, a rotatable rollerlocated to th'e rea-r of the normal forward. position of the suctionbox, said roller .pro-

vided with'a series of annular recesses, an

air pipe provided with a series of nozzles projectinginto the recessesofthe roller, and means for supplying air tol said air-pipe.

8. In pneumatic separators, the combination of a forwardly andbackwardly reciprocating suction" box' provided with b ottom openings,means for creating a suction from said box, a rollerI locatedA to therear of the lnormal forward position of the suction box and lover whichroller .the suction box 'in its rearward travel is'- adapted to'l move'and bear against, means for'rotating,

said roller in a direction toward the front end ofthe machine, and meansconstructed to-permit an up'and down yielding motion of the roller, thedown movement thereof occurring when the suction box bears thereon, andthe u-p movement occurring when the suction box in 'its travel ciearsthe roller.l I

9'. Tn pneumatic separators, the combination of a forwardly andbackwardly reciprocating suction box provided with bottom openings,means for creating a suction from said suction box, a roller located tothe Vrear of the normal forward position 'of the suction box, saidroller provided 'with a series of grooves, and over which roller thesuction box in its rearward travel is adapted tovmove and bear against,means for rotating the roller in a direction toward the suction boxbears on the roller, and a vertical up movement occurring when thesuction box in its travel clears said roller.

ll), n pneumatic separators, the combination of a forwardly andVbackwardly reciprocating suction box provided with bottom openings,means for creating a suction from said box, a roller locatedA to therear of thenormal forward position of the suction box, said rollerprovided with a series of annular grooves, and over which roller thesuction box in its travel is adapted to move and bear against, means forrotating the roller in a direction toward the forward end of themachine,guide ways, slides vertically' movable in said guide ways, Vsaid slidesprovided. with projecting arms forining bearings for the ends o f theshaft of the roller, a transverse an' pipe connected to the slides andhaving a series of nozzles projecting therefrom and into the grooves ofthe roller, means for supplying air to said pipe, levers pivoted betweentheir ends to the frame work and at their outer ends to the slides, andweights adjustably mounted on the free arms of the levers.

l1. lnpneumatio separators, the combination of a frame, a suction boxada ,ted to travel back and, forth thereon, a ro ler lo cated to therear of the norma-l forward position of vthe suction box, means forcausing roller to rotate in a direction toward the front end of themachine, a main shaft, cams on said main shaft, devices connected to thesuction box and operated by the cams, the

formation of the cams being such that when the main shaft is rotatedtoward the front end of the frame the suction box through the camformation and said connections is irst elevated, then caused to travelrearwardly, then lowered to a position over and in contact with theroller, then raised and caused to continue its travel rearwardly, Vandother mechanism'acting in conjunction with the cams to cause a returntravel of the suction box toward the front end of the frame, and tocause a final lowering of the suction box to its initial position. i

l2. In pneumatic separators, the combinan tion of a frame, a suction boxadapted to travel back and forth thereon, a roller located to the rearof the nornuil 'forward position of the suction box, means for causingsaid roller to rotate in a direction toward the and said connections isfirst elevated, then caused to travel rearwardly, then lowered to aposition over and 'in contact with the roller, then. momentarily heldstationary, then raised and caused to continue its travel rearwardly,and other mechanism acting 30 conjunction with the cams to cause a reiturn travel of the suction box toward the front end of the frame, and tocause a nal lowering of the suction -box to its initiall poi sition.'35,.

13. .ln pneumatic separators, the combination of a frame, a main driveshaft having' its bearings in the frame, cams mounted 'on the shaft,means for rotating the shaft to- 1 ward the forward end of the frame, asucgo tion box having bottom openings, means for creating a suction fromsaid box, a 'roller' to the rear of the normal forward position of thesuction box, bars to which the e ds of the suction box are connected,Ipivoted l vers l provided with guides in which the barshre" adaptedtotravel, links connected to the iv oted levers, other levers to whichthe links are connected, rollers carried by said latter' levers andadapted to bear on two of the cams, links pivotally connected to themov-` able bars, bell-crank leverspivotally connected to the links,springs connected to the bell-crank levers and to the frame work,

niedially pivoted levers having link connec-l tions at their forwardendswith the shortA arms of the bell-crank levers, and having-v thcirrear ends carrying rollers adapted to bear respectively on the other twocams, thev formation of the cams in conjunction with the aforementionedconnections between the suction box and the rollers, being such that`said suction box is lirst elevated, then caused` to travel rearwardly,then lowered to aI posi-ff tion over and infcontact with the roller,then raised and caused to' continue its travel rearwardly, and finallycaused to travel lin a reverse direction toward the frontend of theframe, and to finally drop to its lower initial position.

14. ln pneumatic separators, the combination of a frame, a main driveshaft having its bearings in the frame, cams mounted on the shaft, meansfor rotating the shaft to-` ward the forward end of the frame, a Suc- Y1 tion box having bottom openin s, means for creating a suction yfromsaid 0x, a roller to the rear of the normal forward position of thesuction box, means for causing said roller to rotate in a directiontoward the fon 30 ward end of the machine, a blowing mechanismconstructed to direct blasts of air over said roller and toward thesuction box, hars to which the ends of the suction box are 1 connected,pivoted levers provided with i guides in which the bars are ,adapted totravel, links connected to the pivoted levers, other levers to which thelinks are connected, rollers carried by said other levers and adapted tobear respectively on two of thc cams, links pivotally connected to themovable bars, bell-crank levers pivotally connected to the links,springs connect-ed to the bell-crank levers and to the frame work,medially pivoted levers having link connections at their forward ends tothe short arms of the bell-crank levers and having their rear endscarrying rollers adapted to bear respectively on the other 4two cams,the formation of the cams in conjunction with the system of connectionsaforementioned between the suction box and the rollers being such that said suction box is first elevated, then caused to travel rearwardly,then lowered to a position over and in contact with the roller, thenmomentarily held stationary,

then raised and caused to continue its travel rearwardly, and finallycaused to travel in a reverse direction toward the front end of thel'rame, and to tinall)v drop to its lower initial position.

l5. In pneumatic separators, the combination of a torwardtv andbackwardly reciprocating suction box provided with bottom openings,means for exhaustingthe air from said box, a roller located to the rearof the normal forward position of said suction box` and means forspacing?r the suction box from the roller the thickness ot' a sheet ofpaper.

16. In pneumatic separators, the combination of a forwardly andbackwardly reciproeating,` suction box' provided with bottom openings.means for exhaustinpr the an; from said box, a roller located to therear of the normal forward position of said suction box, and adjusting'screws for spacing the suction box from the roller the thickness of asheet of paper.

In testimony whereof, I aHix my sifnature, in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK A. BRFNNER, Witnesses ANNA F. SonMnrrnAtmn, C. H. KnnNEr.

